The super mini cars represent a perfect balance between performance, comfort, functionality for the family and price. Where did they come from, how do you choose a great one, and what is the real difference between them and the endangered mini cars?
Oren Hadar
Many Israelis can recite by heart the names of recommended super mini vehicles: Hyundai i20, Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Swift and others. But not every such car will really meet their needs as drivers. To choose a suitable one, you need to understand the category and where the market itself is going. This guide will take you on a quick tour of the super mini world.
What is a real super mini car?
A super mini car combines the urban comfort and agility of mini models with a large passenger compartment that is suitable for families. They are characterized by hatchback chassis with a high trunk, for retrieving objects even while driving. The wheelbase is short and allows for more agile steering, for easy maneuvering in parking lots and crowded streets as well as an energetic driving experience. The first Super Minis were the Fiat 127 of 1971 and the Renault 5 of 1972; The public was enthusiastic about their advantages, and many of the series launched in the seventies are still sold in the same configuration – for example the Ford Fiesta and the Volkswagen Polo.
Nowadays, super mini cars are characterized by gasoline drive of 1.4 L or more or hybrid – but there are manufacturers who choose a more creative method: for example, JVendai i20 * Received a single-liter turbo gasoline engine, which provides both fuel economy and great performance.
The situation in the market: the super beat the mini
The advantages of super mini cars over the mini models is one of the reasons that the tiny car category is disappearing – and in the near future may disappear completely. The process has already begun. Mini cars currently make up about 7% of the European market, compared to about 20% held by Super Mini cars.
The gap in Israel is smaller. The delivery rate of the super mini in 2021 was 12% of the market, compared to 8% in the mini category. However, the global trend is the decline of smallness. The manufacturers prefer to market super mini models, for several reasons. First, species are less profitable for them; They are cheap to sell and still need all the safety systems, sensors and software package that more expensive models have, so the margin is small. This, while the global chip crisis makes the sensors and systems more expensive, which erodes the manufacturer’s profits even more.
Second, for decades drivers in Europe and the US have preferred a larger interior space, and improvements in material technologies have enabled cars to be gradually enlarged. It is no longer profitable to enlarge the Mini and manufacturers prefer to offer a Super Mini instead.
and third, New regulation in the European Union will require a significant reduction in carbon emissions starting in 2025. The limitations require extensive R&D and engine adjustments, and the manufacturers would prefer to allocate resources to more profitable categories – super mini, small and family crossovers.
Should you buy mini or super mini?
Young couples who don’t often leave the city or travel regularly to distant family members can make do with a mini car. These are cheaper models, with slightly better fuel consumption, with which it is easier to find parking. Keep in mind that children will probably change your needs, and in a few years you will be looking for a spacious model that will make it easier for you, especially when there is a toddler and a baby in the car. Families prefer to choose a cheap super mini car, and enjoy the interior space, the comfort of the ride and the preservation of value.
Recommended super mini cars
Hyundai i20. Considered one of the best and most affordable thanks to a combination of fuel economy, a spacious passenger compartment and a fun driving experience. The choice of a small but powerful engine provides good performance and keeps the vehicle weight low, which also contributes to gasoline consumption. Its latest version received a more aggressive and warm design, which attracts young drivers. Also, the used car market is alive and kicking, which leads many Israelis to search Hyundai 2nd hand i20 and gives the car good value retention.
Toyota Yaris. The hybrid model is considered one of the most economical in Israel, and only an electric car shows lower travel costs. The interior space is pampering in the front, but limited in the back. Because of the small headroom, you will probably be more suitable for families with small children.
Suzuki Swift. An old and popular Super Mini, which in the previous decade was considered by many to be the best of them all. The new models still boast a spacious and elegant passenger cabin and rich accessories, but the driving experience is a little less good due to gaps in noise insulation and mediocre performance in long-distance driving.
Peugeot 208. The latest in the Super Mini series that young people especially love, since the 205 days of the seventies and eighties. The space in the back seat is not large and the trunk is also a bit small, but in front it is very comfortable and its performance is excellent. It’s a very fun car to drive, which even today mostly attracts students and novice drivers.
Skoda Fabia. A very spacious car, which is one of the most spacious in the category. Her trunk is also large, and she is considered very comfortable on long trips. Car experts recommend to prefer series with low finishing levels, where the roof is standard and not transparent; It cannot be covered, which is less convenient in the Israeli summer.
Summary
There are very big differences between a mini car and a super mini car, and those who know how to recognize them and take into account their current family situation and in the coming years, will be able to choose the most suitable car.
* The article includes marketing content on behalf of direct funding. The publication of the information does not constitute a recommendation or the provision of advice, and the information does not replace consultations with the relevant professionals. Making any decision based on the above is the sole responsibility of the surfer. Failure to comply with the repayment of the loan or repayment of the credit may result in arrears interest being charged and execution procedures. Direct financing is not responsible for the quality or correctness of the vehicle to be purchased.
License number 54414.